cupulolithiasis

/cu·pu·lo·li·thi·a·sis/ (ku″pu-lo-lĭ-thi´ah-sis) the presence of calculi in the cupula of the posterior semicircular duct.

cupulolithiasis

[kyo̅o̅′pyoo͡lōlithī′əsis]

Etymology: L, cupula, little cup; Gk, lithos, stone

a severe, long-lasting vertigo brought on by movement of the head to certain positions. Among the many possible causes are otitis media, ear surgery, and injury to the inner ear. In addition to extreme dizziness, signs are nausea, vomiting, and ataxia. There is no treatment except avoidance of the offending head positions. See also positional vertigo.

benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

A form of transient vertigo caused by utricular degeneration which liberates otoconia: otoconia drift into the lower part of the vestibule, the ampulla of the posterior semicircular canal; once there, the otoconia alter the cupola’s specific gravity, changing its response characteristics from a purely angular acceleration detector to one that is stimulated by linear movements and gravity.

IncidenceBPPV is a common form of vertigo, more common in older adults.

DiagnosisHistory—e.g., single bouts of severe vertigo of < 1 min in duration after a change in head position, often more severe on one side, when bending, looking to take an object off a shelf or tilting the head back; the episodes are clustered in time and separated by remissions lasting months or more; Hallpike maneuver.

Canalithiasis refers to the displacement of otoconia located within the gelatinous membrane in the macula into the semicircular canals, whereas cupulolithiasis defines the adherence of these particles to the cupula of the semicircular canals.

The two main hypothesis; which explain the development of BPPV are the cupulolithiasis and canalithiasis theory, which is based on the presence of free- floating debris in the lumen of the canal which is the cause of vertigo4.

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.